Harmonic maps into homogeneous spaces according to a Darboux homogeneous derivative (Q887748)

For maps \(F:M\to G\) to a Lie group, the Darboux derivative is the \(\mathfrak{g}\)-valued \(1\)-form given as the pull-back of the Maurer-Cartan form via \(F\). Here the authors give a definition of a Maurer-Cartan form of homogeneous spaces \(G/H\) that is suitable for defining also a Darboux derivative \(\mu_F\) for mappings \(F:M\to G/H\). Having this, they characterize harmonicity of a map to \(M/G\) by the following theorem. Suppose that \(\pi:G\to G/H\) is an affine submersion with horizontal distribution, for connections \(\nabla^G\) on \(G\) and \(\nabla^{G/H}\) on \(G/H\) suitably chosen. Let \(M\) be a Riemannian manifold and \(F:M\to G/H\) a smooth map. Then \(F\) is a harmonic map if and only if \(d^*\mu_F-\mathrm{tr}(\mu_F^*\nabla^{G/H})=0\). Some applications to the case \(G/H=\mathrm{SL}(n,\mathbb R)/\mathrm{SO}(n,\mathbb{R})\) are also given.